February 17, 2012 // Franchising.com // NASSAU, Bahamas - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups, and Edwardian Group Limited, announced they will rebrand all Radisson Edwardian Hotels, a portfolio of 13 hotels in the United Kingdom and Manchester, to the Radisson Blu brand by the second half of the year.

“This expansion in the U.K. is a major milestone for the growth of Radisson Blu,” said Hubert Joly, president and chief executive officer, Carlson. “With this strategic move, we will now have 13 additional Radisson Blu hotels in the London market, one of the world’s most important markets. We are grateful to the Edwardian Hotels Group for their long standing partnership and look forward to continuing to build our relationship.”

“Radisson Blu is one of the world’s fastest growing upscale hotel brands and we are delighted to align Edwardian Hotels with such an iconic brand. In doing so, we gain vastly greater visible presence and remove any source of potential confusion for our customers and create a stronger identity, especially in Europe,” said Jasminder Singh, chairman and chief executive officer, Edwardian Group Limited. Radisson Edwardian Hotels, one of the U.K.’s largest, privately owned, upscale hotel groups, is owned by Singh and family and was founded by Singh in 1977.

The Radisson Edwardian Hotels rebranding to Radisson Blu represents more than 2,500 rooms and suites and includes 13 four- and five-star hotels in London and a five-star hotel in Manchester, all focused on providing exceptional quality and service. Since 2000, the company has invested more than USD 300 million into a comprehensive and ongoing renovation program.

Together with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s existing operations in the region, these changes will bring the total number of Radisson Blu hotels in the U.K. to 40 hotels in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The 13 Radisson Edwardian Hotels include:

Radisson Edwardian Berkshire Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street

Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square

Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel

Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf

Radisson Edwardian Sussex Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Hotel Manchester

Radisson Edwardian Heathrow Hotel, Middlesex

Radisson Edwardian Guildford Hotel, Surrey

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group – born in early 2012 – is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels, a global footprint spanning 81 countries and territories, a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Hotel Missoni). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium.

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